Varney the Vampire eBook

“I believe that is a common delusion of intemperate
persons,” said Charles.

“Is it, sir; well, it’s a very awkward
I thing, because you know, sir, as well as most people,
that I’m not the fellow to take a drop too much.”

“I cannot say, Jack, that I know so much, for
I have certainly heard my uncle accuse you of intoxication.”

“Lor’, sir, that was all just on account
of his trying it hisself; he was a thinking on it
then, and wanted to see how I’d take it.”

“But tell me of Flora; are you quite certain
that she has had no more alarms from Varney?”

“What, that ere vampyre fellow? not a bit of
it, your honour. Lor’ bless you, he must
have found out by some means or another that I was
on the look out, and that did the business. He’ll
never come near Miss Flora again, I’ll be bound,
though to be sure we moved away from the Hall on account
of him; but not that I saw the good of cruising out
of one’s own latitude, but somehow or another
you see the doctor and the admiral got it into their
heads to establish a sort of blockade, and the idea
of the thing was to sail away in the night quite quiet,
and after that take up a position that would come
across the enemy on the larboard tack, if so be as
he made his appearance.”

“Oh, you allude to watching the Hall, I presume?”

“Ay, ay, sir, just so; but would you believe
it, Master Charlie, the admiral and the doctor got
so blessed drunk that I could do nothing with ’em.”

“Indeed!”

“Yes, they did indeed, and made all kinds of
queer mistakes, so that the end of all that was, that
the vampyre did come; but he got away again.”

“He did come then; Sir Francis Varney came again
after the house was presumed to be deserted?”

“He did, sir.”

“That is very strange; what on earth could have
been his object? This affair is most inexplicably
mysterious. I hope the distance, Jack, is not
far that you’re taking me, for I’m incapable
of enduring much fatigue.”

“Not a great way, your honour; keep two points
to the westward, and sail straight on; we’ll
soon come to port. My eye, won’t there be
a squall when you get in. I expect as Miss Flora
will drop down as dead as a herring, for she doesn’t
think you’re above the hatches.”

“A good thought, Jack; my sudden appearance
may produce alarm. When we reach the place of
abode of the Bannerworths, you shall precede me, and
prepare them in some measure for my reception.”

“Very good, sir; do you see that there little
white cottage a-head, there in the offing?”

“Yes, yes; is that the place?”

“Yes, your honour, that’s the port to
which we are bound.”

“Well, then, Jack, you hasten a-head, and see
Miss Flora, and be sure you prepare her gently and
by degrees, you know, Jack, for my appearance, so
that she shall not be alarmed.”